Sokoto State government has confirmed a cholera outbreak in the state has led to the death of at least 25 people with a further 1,160 people hospitalized.
The state’s commissioner of health, Asabe Balarabe, confirmed in an interview with BBC News Pidgin that three local governments affected by the outbreak include: Sokoto North, Silame, and Kware local government areas.
The commissioner confirmed the government has taken quick actions to stop the disease from spreading by setting up a response team.
“A cholera outbreak indeed occurred in three local government areas of Sokoto; Sokoto North, Silame, and Kware.
“Currently, we have recorded 25 dead and another 1,160 hospitalized,” Balarabe said.
She added there were still active cases in some local government areas.
“We still have 15 active cases of cholera in areas where the outbreak happened and the victims are in critical condition, but we have given them medications and currently have them on treatment.”
Balarabe says investigations show the outbreak occurred due to the water consumed in affected areas.
“Our investigation revealed the victims got the disease from the water they drink which is near gutters. Also, some of the tap water residents use are very close to unclean toilets and gutters.”
The commissioner for health states all measures are in place to stop the outbreak from spreading to other parts of the state.
“We have already shared free medications to the remaining 18 local government areas in collaboration with other stakeholders to help stop the spread of cholera in the remaining parts of Sokoto.”
She adds say there are provisions to quarantine infected people.
“We also have some IBH centers in Amanawa and a Specialist hospital in Sokoto town where we quarantine infected people to stop the cholera from spreading.”
Conclusively, the commissioner asked Sokoto residents especially women to be careful of the kind of food and water they use for cooking to stem the spread of cholera across the state.
